Starting next Wednesday, I'll be taking a brief hiatus so that I can tie up a bunch of loose ends and take care of some last minute wedding planning and preparation before our big day. As such, I'm having a group of amazing Austin bloggers (and just some all around lovely ladies!) that are going to be guest posting for the week leading up to our wedding on the topic of - what else? - marriage!
I'd love for you all to tune in and read what they have to say. It's a diverse group - some have been married only a year or two, some over ten years, all with wonderful things to say and great advice to send me off into marriage with!
These ladies are wise beyond their years and know so much, I'm pretty sure
some should become a counselor.
In the meantime, I'm out getting my bachelorette on over this weekend - pics and stories to come Monday!
Showing posts with label Austin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Austin. Show all posts
Friday, March 23, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Ballet Austin's Hansel & Gretel
Have I mentioned how obsessed with the ballet Ava is? Ever since we took her to The Nutcracker back in December, she's talked about little else.
Maybe she will grow up and pursue a mfa degree! She wants to wear tutus, her ballerina pi's, and ballet shoes every single day, and I'm happy to indulge her - it's pretty adorable.
Anyhow, I found out last Tuesday that Ballet Austin was doing a run of Hansel & Gretel. At just under an hour in length, along with some of the scarier parts (attempting to bake Hansel in the oven, specifically) being modified, it was the perfect show for kids, and so I immediately bought tickets and Ava and I spent the afternoon this past Saturday having a girls day at the ballet. So awesome.
We got all dolled up, and headed downtown to the Butler Dance Education Center that was recently erected on W. 3rd Street. The facility itself was gorgeous, and the performance was held inside the intimate Austin Ventures Studio, holding about 100-150 people and allowing everyone to have an amazing seat. We were in the fourth row, and sat next to the most delightful elderly couple who just thought Ava was the cutest thing ever. I'm biased, but I tend to agree :)
Here's Ava and I inside the studio (Pardon the blurriness, the older man was taking the photos after being specifically told not to - thank you, sir!!!):
I know the pictures are awful, but the memories are amazing <3 I was so born to the mother of a little girl!
Maybe she will grow up and pursue a mfa degree! She wants to wear tutus, her ballerina pi's, and ballet shoes every single day, and I'm happy to indulge her - it's pretty adorable.
Anyhow, I found out last Tuesday that Ballet Austin was doing a run of Hansel & Gretel. At just under an hour in length, along with some of the scarier parts (attempting to bake Hansel in the oven, specifically) being modified, it was the perfect show for kids, and so I immediately bought tickets and Ava and I spent the afternoon this past Saturday having a girls day at the ballet. So awesome.
We got all dolled up, and headed downtown to the Butler Dance Education Center that was recently erected on W. 3rd Street. The facility itself was gorgeous, and the performance was held inside the intimate Austin Ventures Studio, holding about 100-150 people and allowing everyone to have an amazing seat. We were in the fourth row, and sat next to the most delightful elderly couple who just thought Ava was the cutest thing ever. I'm biased, but I tend to agree :)
Here's Ava and I inside the studio (Pardon the blurriness, the older man was taking the photos after being specifically told not to - thank you, sir!!!):
I know the pictures are awful, but the memories are amazing <3 I was so born to the mother of a little girl!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tiny Tails to You Petting Zoo Storytime at BookPeople.
Have I mentioned lately that I have the best moms group in the world? Seriously. They have the best ideas for things to do with the little ones, and I have met some of the greatest ladies, not to mention some great playmates for little A!
Anyhow, I had the good fortune to take Ava to our local bookstore, BookPeople, where a local traveling petting zoo called Tiny Tails held a petting zoo storytime. Ava loved it. LOVED. They had an orange guinea pig named Bevo, and Ava charmed the pants off the guy in charge of the animals when he said the guinea pig's name and she shouted "Hook Ems!" She had him wrapped around her finger by the time we left :) I, on the other hand, left my heart with a teeny tiny baby hedgehog! OMG - had I been allowed, I would've slipped the baby into my pocket and taken it home. Did you know that baby hedgehogs live underneath their mother for the first three weeks of their life? The one we got to meet had only just come out days before!!! So adorable!
Here are some pics. We'll be going back to the next one in a few weeks, although this time it'll be me and FOUR kids. Glad I got to enjoy it the first time - lol!
Baby bunnies! I had a couple growing up, and there may be one in our future, judging by A's reaction!
Bigger bunnies:
Bearded Dragon:
Ava's buddy, Bevo. She's been saying, "Miss Bevo! Miss Bevo! ever since" Aww, she misses him!
Silk Chickens:
Tortoise (Did you know the difference between a tortoise and a turtle is that turtles need to partially live in water to live and tortoises don't? I didn't!)
Awwww - love this little fella!
Ava loves the skyline!
In case the animals weren't awesome enough, we also (true to the story time name), read animal stories, and did an animal themed craft appropriate for toddlers (we made elephants out of pre-cut hearts - too cute!). The cost? $10 and an RSVP. Totally worth it! We can't wait to go back in a few weeks!!!!!
Anyhow, I had the good fortune to take Ava to our local bookstore, BookPeople, where a local traveling petting zoo called Tiny Tails held a petting zoo storytime. Ava loved it. LOVED. They had an orange guinea pig named Bevo, and Ava charmed the pants off the guy in charge of the animals when he said the guinea pig's name and she shouted "Hook Ems!" She had him wrapped around her finger by the time we left :) I, on the other hand, left my heart with a teeny tiny baby hedgehog! OMG - had I been allowed, I would've slipped the baby into my pocket and taken it home. Did you know that baby hedgehogs live underneath their mother for the first three weeks of their life? The one we got to meet had only just come out days before!!! So adorable!
Here are some pics. We'll be going back to the next one in a few weeks, although this time it'll be me and FOUR kids. Glad I got to enjoy it the first time - lol!
Baby bunnies! I had a couple growing up, and there may be one in our future, judging by A's reaction!
Bigger bunnies:
Bearded Dragon:
Ava's buddy, Bevo. She's been saying, "Miss Bevo! Miss Bevo! ever since" Aww, she misses him!
Silk Chickens:
Tortoise (Did you know the difference between a tortoise and a turtle is that turtles need to partially live in water to live and tortoises don't? I didn't!)
Awwww - love this little fella!
Ava loves the skyline!
In case the animals weren't awesome enough, we also (true to the story time name), read animal stories, and did an animal themed craft appropriate for toddlers (we made elephants out of pre-cut hearts - too cute!). The cost? $10 and an RSVP. Totally worth it! We can't wait to go back in a few weeks!!!!!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Peek at the Park.
We've been spending a lot of time at an area park in the Rosedale neighborhood lately, and Ava has mastered the playground! Steps carved into the side? Check. Climbing up the rock wall? Check. Monkey bars? "Mommy help!" We're getting there :)
Anyhow, here are some cute pictures I snapped of her at the park Friday:
And I thought these two curly haired beauties were too cute not to take a photo of:
Curly girls gotta stick together!
Anyhow, here are some cute pictures I snapped of her at the park Friday:
And I thought these two curly haired beauties were too cute not to take a photo of:
Curly girls gotta stick together!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Park Fun for Kierra's Birthday Party!
Mommy and Ava, pre-party:
Sliding at Springwoods Park:
On the tennis courts!
Riding the froggy:
Waiting "patiently" for her snack and cake :)
First time on a tire swing - she loved it!
Singing Happy Birthday!
Sliding at Springwoods Park:
On the tennis courts!
Riding the froggy:
Waiting "patiently" for her snack and cake :)
First time on a tire swing - she loved it!
Singing Happy Birthday!
Monday, January 9, 2012
An Impromptu Trip to the Cameron Park Zoo.
Yesterday, itching for something fun to do in the gorgeous weather, we made the nearly 100 mile drive to Waco, Texas to the Cameron Park Zoo. We didn't decide until mid-morning to go, so we timed our departure to directly after our early lunch, and it worked perfectly. Ava slept the entire drive, and when we got there, she was refreshed and ready to go!
The gibbons hammed it up for us!
The bald eagles made me sad :( Poor caged birds!
This was seriously the most child-friendly zoo I've ever visited. There were themed playscapes everywhere!
The cutest little monkey:
Aren't these fish fascinating?
There was a little cave you could crawl into where you could see the alligators up close and personal. Ava was brave!
The regal jaguar - one of my faves!
Ava in a teepee!
How awesome are these owls?
Their herpatarium was world class:
Ava wasn't remotely afraid of the snakes!
I'm partial to the giraffes...
When asked what her favorite animal was, Ava told us the rhino!
The elephant wasn't posing for us :/
The majestic lion:
She was not cooperating for this one:
The gibbons hammed it up for us!
The bald eagles made me sad :( Poor caged birds!
This was seriously the most child-friendly zoo I've ever visited. There were themed playscapes everywhere!
The cutest little monkey:
Aren't these fish fascinating?
There was a little cave you could crawl into where you could see the alligators up close and personal. Ava was brave!
The regal jaguar - one of my faves!
Ava in a teepee!
How awesome are these owls?
Their herpatarium was world class:
Ava wasn't remotely afraid of the snakes!
I'm partial to the giraffes...
When asked what her favorite animal was, Ava told us the rhino!
The elephant wasn't posing for us :/
The majestic lion:
She was not cooperating for this one:
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thanksgayving: My Favorite "Holiday"
First and foremost, before I get into a picture post about my favorite event of the year, I just wanted to say thank you to all the lovely ladies that made me feel so much better after my last meltdown post! Knowing I'm not alone in being overwhelmed and occasionally short on patience makes me feel much better :)
OK, now moving on to the fun stuff!
As I've mentioned the past two years (2009, 2010), I'm involved in an annual Thanksgiving potluck that functions as both a major party and a charitable event. It may come as no surprise even if you don't know me well, but I have always been and will always be a friend to the gays. In fact, prior to David, my friends consisted of 99% gay men, but now we're just getting off topic.
Anyhow.
Each year ten of us come together to host a huge (over 800 invites went out this year, with about 450 attendees!) party at a bar downtown, where everyone brings a dish, participates in a silent auction (botox, anyone?), and brings canned food and other items to donate to those in need. I am so, so, so incredibly blessed to have such generous and wonderful friends, and look forward to this event more than almost anything else about the holiday season (well, aside from A's birthday and Christmas moments for her!). I should mention that unfortunately this year David and Ava stayed home, and though I was disappointed, I totally understand why he wouldn't want to spend the afternoon/evening wrangling her in a bar packed to the brim!
Without further adieu, here are pictures from this year's shindig (I should note that we hired a professional photographer this year, and so my pics were few in comparison. I'll post those when we get the images!):
This year the location changed, as the bar moved to a bigger space, so I made sure to get a good rooftop shot:
Most hosts, some others:
Ava's godfather and me:
One of my very best friends:
One of the best parts of Thanksgayving is that it brings in out-of-towners I only see this one day a year!
Young Folks:
So very many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, starting with amazing friends and family! Happy Thanksgayving, y'all!
OK, now moving on to the fun stuff!
As I've mentioned the past two years (2009, 2010), I'm involved in an annual Thanksgiving potluck that functions as both a major party and a charitable event. It may come as no surprise even if you don't know me well, but I have always been and will always be a friend to the gays. In fact, prior to David, my friends consisted of 99% gay men, but now we're just getting off topic.
Anyhow.
Each year ten of us come together to host a huge (over 800 invites went out this year, with about 450 attendees!) party at a bar downtown, where everyone brings a dish, participates in a silent auction (botox, anyone?), and brings canned food and other items to donate to those in need. I am so, so, so incredibly blessed to have such generous and wonderful friends, and look forward to this event more than almost anything else about the holiday season (well, aside from A's birthday and Christmas moments for her!). I should mention that unfortunately this year David and Ava stayed home, and though I was disappointed, I totally understand why he wouldn't want to spend the afternoon/evening wrangling her in a bar packed to the brim!
Without further adieu, here are pictures from this year's shindig (I should note that we hired a professional photographer this year, and so my pics were few in comparison. I'll post those when we get the images!):
This year the location changed, as the bar moved to a bigger space, so I made sure to get a good rooftop shot:
Most hosts, some others:
Ava's godfather and me:
One of my very best friends:
One of the best parts of Thanksgayving is that it brings in out-of-towners I only see this one day a year!
Young Folks:
So very many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, starting with amazing friends and family! Happy Thanksgayving, y'all!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Elgin Pumpkin Festival at the Christmas Tree Farm!
Saturday we took a trip out to the Elgin Christmas Tree Farm's annual Pumpkin Festival. This place is really only about half an hour outside of Austin, and well worth the drive, especially when you consider that Meyer's Elgin Sausage and Southside Market (two BBQ joints that had a very public food network face-off for best BBQ!) are just about a mile away! YUM!
You may remember that we took this same drive out last year for Ava's first major pumpkin patch excursion, but this year was a whole 'nother ball game, with Ava being leaps and bounds ahead of where I thought she'd be. She literally ran through the entire excursion, petting the animals and swinging and picking out a pumpkin with me. So glad that I had David in tow with me this year!! Here are some pics (and yes, we're decked out in burnt orange every Saturday!)
Ahh, the sweet scenes of the countryside:
The hayride had a "spooky" theme :)
Antique tractors:
Hayrides through the farmland:
Lots of chances for photo opps!
They had a sweet petting zoo...
and hayrides!
Ava's response to, "Say cheese!"
Cool kid:
She would've stayed on this swing all day!
Driving a tractor:
This growth chart was seriously thwarted by the sloping hill...
Ava and I both loved this picture!
Riding the train with daddy (and mommy in the car behind them!):
Family shot!
You may remember that we took this same drive out last year for Ava's first major pumpkin patch excursion, but this year was a whole 'nother ball game, with Ava being leaps and bounds ahead of where I thought she'd be. She literally ran through the entire excursion, petting the animals and swinging and picking out a pumpkin with me. So glad that I had David in tow with me this year!! Here are some pics (and yes, we're decked out in burnt orange every Saturday!)
Ahh, the sweet scenes of the countryside:
The hayride had a "spooky" theme :)
Antique tractors:
Hayrides through the farmland:
Lots of chances for photo opps!
They had a sweet petting zoo...
and hayrides!
Ava's response to, "Say cheese!"
Cool kid:
She would've stayed on this swing all day!
Driving a tractor:
This growth chart was seriously thwarted by the sloping hill...
Ava and I both loved this picture!
Riding the train with daddy (and mommy in the car behind them!):
Family shot!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
